Thermo-economic analysis, energy modeling and reconstructing of components of a single effect solar-absorption lithium bromide chiller for energy performance enhancement

This research includes a thermodynamic analysis of a solar absorption chiller due to design temperatures and pressures. Integration of solar energy and absorption chiller in low capacities is done by: static rela-tions (including point-to-point system behavior variations) ruling absorption chillers, calculating the amount of required heat for the generator of the chiller and how it is supplied with, coding and determin-ing optimal chiller coefficient of performance (COP) in Engineering Equation Solver (EES) software, eval-uating the affecting factors on the COP by system analysis method. According to the system analysis of a combined solar-chiller system, the best COP is determined to be 0.77; which is a technically acceptable amount in small-size chillers. Also, the computational model for the economic evaluation of energy and energy-saving from receiving solar heat by using a suitable collector shows a 9-year payback period (con-sidering the subsidized price: 0.01$ (2,500 Rails) per cubic meter of natural gas) and a 2-year payback period (considering FOB price equals 0.16$ per cubic meter natural gas). Therefore, it is proven that the economic feasibility of integrating absorption chillers and solar energy is affected by the price of energy carriers in real or subsidiary form and the bank interest rate.(c) 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This research conducts a thermodynamic analysis of a solar absorption chiller, determining the design temperatures and pressures. It integrates solar energy and absorption chiller in low capacities through system analysis method. The study finds the optimal coefficient of performance (COP) to be 0.77, and the economic evaluation model shows that integrating absorption chillers and solar energy is affected by energy prices and bank interest rate.